Chapter 41: Love

B POV

My body screams at me to revolt and I begin to violently try and push him away, struggling against him as I surge and buck to escape. "Get off of me!" I scream at him.

I manage to wiggle away but my dress gets wrapped around my ankle and I trip on the hem. I go sprawling onto the dance floor.

The crowd scatters and I scramble to my feet. I turn, only to find Drake sneering down at me. "Now look what you've gone and done Jelly Belly."

He bends to help me the rest of the way up but I slap his hand away. "Don't you dare touch me." I seethe.

"Bella!?" Edward's voice sharply bites in over my hiss. Forgetting about all the feelings of jealousy and resentment I felt, I throw myself at him and bury my face into his chest. His hands wrap tightly around me and my fear begins to dissolve.

"What's going on?" He asks breathlessly. All I can do is shake my head in sheer disgust at myself. "Baby talk to me."

I gather my breath in a sob and stare into his masked face. His unmistakable green eyes are soft but alert and worried.

"Drake." I nod my head to the demon whose date has vaporized next to him as well.

"Oh Bella, it appears you've met my date." Tanya drawls sweetly as she loops her arm through Drake's.

"Your...your date?" I stumble, not believing what I'm hearing. By this time a circle has formed around the four of us. A couple's showdown seems to be the new entertainment of the night. I push away from Edward slightly, still maintaining the contact I need to stay strong, but also trying to gain some composure.

"Don't worry Jelly Belly," Drake answers mildly. "There's plenty of me to go around." Tanya shoots him a pointed glare.

Drake's crooked sneer twitches a little before he continues. "Although I know for a fact, there's more of you that goes around."

An anger crescendos in my soul but before I can do anything about it, Edward's fist has already made contact with Drake's jaw. The devil mask goes flying into the crowd as Drake stumbles backwards with a garbled groan.

Drake's looks haven't changed much since last time I saw him. His dark eyes are still wild looking and his hair is slicked with so much product, he could fit in with the guys from Jersey Shore.

He recovers quickly though and makes a lunge, plowing into Edward's abdomen, sending them both sprawling backwards onto the hard gym floor. Edward's grunt is heard as Drake takes a punch. I react quickly, clawing at Drake, trying in vain to dislodge him from atop Edward.

"Get off me bitch," He spits as he diverts his attention to push me away. One hard shove causes me to lose balance in my heels and fall. A sharp pain in my ankle crumples me.

When I look up however Edward has gained the upper hand. He has a hold of Drake's collar and gets in one good punch before another body seemingly appears out of nowhere.

The furiously beat red, mustachioed face of my father looms frighteningly over the fight. He quickly grabs a hold of Edward's descending fist and prevents his next blow from landing somewhere between Drake's neck and eye socket.

"That's enough Edward." Charlie says almost too calmly. "I'll take it from here." Edward nods once, letting his fist loose the tension, but not dislodging his hand from the vice grip it has on Drake's shirt.

He bends low and says loud enough for only the few around us to hear. "You are not welcome here. If you so much as look at Bella again, I swear you will have to eat meals through a straw the rest of your life."

"Come on son," Charlie taps Edward's shoulder.

Edward gives Drake one last venomous and threatening look before he forcefully pushes Drake to the floor and swiftly gets up. He makes his way over to me I bury my nose into his chest, wrapping my arms around his middle and holding onto him for dear life. I'm so proud and embarrassed and disgusted and frightened and it all comes roaring through me like a runaway train.

"Alright, show's over!" I vaguely hear Charlie call out. "Scatter!"

Edward shuffles me further away as I turn my attention back to my father. He has a hold of Drake by the scruff of the neck and is having a very heated, very one-sided conversation with him. Drake stares at him with blank placidity, as if he's letting most of it go in one ear and out the other.

"Bella!" Rose and Alice are at our side immediately.

"Oh my God, who is that douchebag?" Rose begins.

"I can't believe he said that about you!" Alice finishes.

I flush with embarrassment and divert my gaze.

"That would be Drake." Edward answers for me.

"No fuckin' way!" Emmett answers in disbelief. "Why the hell is he here?"

"And why is Tanya over there doting on him?" Jazz observes. We all look over to see Tanya now attached to his side, cozying up to him and feeding his overly sized ego.

"I'll go check it out." Emmett answers. He makes his way over to the group. No sooner does he arrive, Mrs. Denali joins the group along with Mrs. Francisco.

There's a lot of finger pointing, what looks like heated words and Emmett throwing his hands in the air in a 'what-the-fuck' kind of way.

Charlie finally releases Drake by the scruff of the neck-a little forcefully-relinquishing him to Mrs. Denali. Mrs. Francisco delicately places her arm around Drake's shoulder and steers him toward the side hall. Tanya obstinately follows him.

Alice and Rose are still trying to pry me for answers but I've barely noticed their chatting because I'm too focused on what's going on twenty yards away. Emmett, Charlie and Mrs. Denali are marching over to Edward and I. Edward notices and grips me tighter to him.

"What's going on?" He finally asks as the adults reach us.

"You're going to have to come with me." Mrs. Denali answers mildly. Edward nods his head, as if he were expecting to hear that answer.

Edward goes to detach himself from me but I interject. "What is Drake doing here?"

"He's attending school here now. It appears he has family here in Forks and has moved in with them."

"Family? Who?" I feverishly question her.

"The Franciscos. Aro and his parents." My eyes widen in surprise at her answer.

"Mr. Cullen, I'm going to need to have a conversation with you and Mr. Higgins. If you would please come with me-"

"I'm coming as well." I interrupt.

"Bella, no. You don't have to do that." Edward answers strongly. "You don't have to deal with him. I'm the one that threw the first punch. You should know as well as I that there's no fighting on school property." He gives me a crooked grin and brushes a strand of my disheveled hair from my face.

"He's right Bella." Charlie answers. "You and I have matters to discuss."

I nod once and gulp my frustration. Edward leans forward and kisses me softly.

"Don't worry," He whispers. "You're worth all of this."

"I'm sorry." I choke. He opens his mouth to interrupt me but I put my fingers over his mouth. "I'm sorry I blew up at you for Meg. I have to learn to not let my past insecurities take control of me. I'm sorry that you had to deal with Drake. I shouldn't have followed him to the dance floor."

"Bella, we'll talk about this later." He smiles at me. "Trust me, I'm not going anywhere."

I can't form words so I just nod. He kisses my temple softly. "Love you." He says.

"Love you too." I simper before he heads off with Mrs. Denali.

I watch him walk away before turning back to my dad and the rest of our group.

"Bells, we have to talk." Charlie cuts in before anyone else has a chance to say anything. I nod my head and grab onto his arm. He leads me to a table on the far edge of the gym and we sit next to one another.

"Are you okay?" He ask, inspecting my ankle.

I nod as I lift my dress. The shoes are a little scuffed but the pain in my ankle has gone down considerably. "I don't think anything is broken, only slightly sprained. I'll be fine."

He nods once and tight lipped looks toward the door where the group disappeared behind.

"That was the kid from Arizona." He says not needing my answer, which I give anyway.

"Yes."

"And he's targeted you again."

"Looks like it."

"And he's dating Tanya."

"I guess."

"SHIT!" He curses breathlessly. "I'm sorry Bella. It seems no matter how hard I try I can't always be there to protect you. Not unless I start following you around school."

"Dad, I don't need my daddy to protect me 24/7. I love and appreciate that you're there for me in case I ever do, but there comes a point where I need to stand up for myself. It appears that time is now."

"You've come so far since you first arrived here. The introverted, self-conscious Bella that showed up in September is gone and I know that Edward has a huge part to do with that."

"He does dad, but he also can't protect me at every turn. Honestly, had he not punched Drake, I would have smacked him in the face first. I can stand up for myself too ya know."

Charlie nods once and looks toward the door where the group is now emerging. "Do you want to leave or are you going to stay."

"Depends on if Edward is kicked out or not I guess."

Edward walks over to us and looks between me and my dad. "May I have my date back?" He asks Charlie.

"She's all yours." Charlie nods as he stands. "Take good care of her, but remember, I'm watching."

"Yes sir." Edward nods as Charlie tosses me a wink and walks over towards Mrs. Denali.

"May I have this dance?" Edward asks offering me his hand. I smile brightly at him and rest my hand in his.

"Always," and as I stand he lifts my hand to his lips, leaving a feather soft kiss to the inside of the wrist. This is different than any other time he's kissed my hand. Suddenly I feel like I don't want to be in a large gymnasium full of people, but in a private room where we can explore other intimate places to kiss.

I shake the fog in my mind away and let him lead me. We don't go to the dance floor, but towards the exit to the courtyard.

"Oh no, did you get kicked out?" I whine.

"No," he chuckles. "I just noticed that the dance floor has too many intrusions. It's much more private out
here."

"But that area is supposed to be for seniors only." I whisper under my breath.

"Luckily, I know the doorman." He whispers back. I look to the door to see Charlie standing there with a smug smile on his lips. He reaches for the door handle and lets us pass.

"Thank you sir," Edward nods his head towards my dad.

"Have fun you two," Charlie answers before tossing us a wink. I smile at him and let Edward usher me through the door first.

The entire courtyard has been transformed. Rope lights line the walls of the building. The tables have been draped in cloth, as well as the benches. Candelabras are sitting in the center of each table. A makeshift dance floor has been set up at the edge, close to where the field meets the concrete. A beautiful white canopy has been raised to protect the dancers from an attempt by Mother Nature, should it start to rain.

Edward leads me directly to the dance floor, where most of the seniors are, including Rose, Emmett, Jasper and Alice.

None of our group makes a move to ask a million questions; thankfully, they seem to be too engrossed in one another. Or they're just awesome friends and are giving Edward and I a moment of peace after our hellish arrival here.

The music blares over speakers linked to the ones inside. The song? One of my and Edward's of course. I smile as the smooth notes of Garth Brook's 'To Make You Feel My Love' begin. Edward's hands loop around my waist and pull me in. I reach my arms around his neck and fall into his embrace.

We're quiet for a couple of lines but then I can't help myself.

"What happened?" I blurt.

"I could ask you the same thing." He answers a little stiffly. I blush and duck my head. "Why were you on the dance floor with him?" He asks a little forcefully.

"I don't know." I answer softly.

"Not good enough." He huffs. Tears threaten to spill over, but I contain them. "Bella you got absolutely pissed at me because Meg was here when I had no inclination that she would be. And when I go to let you cool down and grab a couple drinks, I find you on the dance floor with Drake. Now I know nothing happened, but how do you think that looked to me?"

"I know, I know." I almost sob. "I'm so so sooo sorry. I had no idea he was going to be here. I didn't even know it washim until we were on the dance floor. Then he got all pervy and handsy and I pushed him away. I would have smacked him had you not punched him."

Edward chuckles half-heartedly before becoming somber again. "Your first dance was with him" He says sadly. I exhale a small, pained breath before answering.

"I didn't think about it. I kind of just let it happen. I was pissed and hurt and jealous and I thought I could make you feel those things back. It was petty and childish. I'm sorry. I will spend every second of this prom hating myself for it."

"Don't do that." He answered quickly. "I want you to enjoy prom. Not hate yourself the entire time. I'll go dance with Meg if it will even us out." He jokes. I smile lightly but hope he understands that my tightened grip on him is my answer. "The truth is Bella. I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else. If you wouldn't have come to Forks, I probably wouldn't have gone to prom this year."

"Had I not come to Forks I wouldn't be who I am now." I answer. "Meeting you and feeling this way about who I am are synonymous Edward. You have helped me grow into who you see in front of you. There's a reason I chose this dress." I stare into his spellbinding eyes and smile.

"I understand." He nods before pushing his lips to mine.

"I promise." I say as I break the kiss. "I will spend every dance from now on with you."

"I'll hold you to that Swan." He answers as he kisses me again. We finish our dance knowing that through the rest of this year and next, we at least have each other to lean on and love.

The storms are raging on the rolling sea,
Down the highway of regret.
The winds of change are blowing wild and free,
But you ain't seen nothing like me yet.

There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do,
Go to the ends of the earth for you,
Make you happy, make your dreams come true,
To make you feel my love.